Strictly Come Dancing romances EXPLAINED: Which stars found love on the BBC show?
STRICTLY COME DANCING is feared for its so-called Strictly “curse”, after a number of celebrities split from the partners shorty after appearing on the BBC show.
Strictly: Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole dance samba
But who did love blossom for? Here’s a round-up of who’s dated who over the past 15 seasons:
Series 1: Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole
Newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky was the first star to face a shock split, after meeting dance partner Brendan Cole on the first ever series.
The couple, who scooped the Glitterball back in 2004, became an item after they both split from their significant others after the show finished.
Brendan was engaged at the time to fellow Strictly professional Camilla Dallerup, while Natasha was with long-term partner Mike Barnard.
The pair have now both since married other people.
Series 5: Matt Di Angelo and Flavia Cacace
Former EastEnders actor Matt Di Angelo was just 19 when he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2007.
The star was partnered with Flavia Cacace who was in a long-term relationship with Vincent Simone at the time, but she announced she’d split with the fellow Strictly professional shortly after the series.
Rumours of romance plagued the Strictly pair, and despite an eight-year age gap, Flavia and Matt soon confirmed that they were together.
The couple seemed to fall victim to the so-called curse again in 2010, after Flavia announced she was dating her series eight dance partner, Jimi Mistry, weeks after her romance with Matt ended. They later tied the knot in 2013.
Series 7: Joe Calzaghe and Kristina Rihanoff
Boxing champion Joe Calzaghe was partnered with Kristina Rihanoff during the seventh season of Strictly Come Dancing.
And, after announcing his five-year relationship with Jo-Emma Larvin had ended just a week into the show back in 2009, the dance duo began dating.
The former boxer and Kristina were together for four years.
Series 8: Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev
Former EastEnders actress Kara Tointon and dance partner Artem Chigvintsev scooped the Glitterball trophy back in 2010 after going head-to-head with runners-up Matt Baker and Aliona Vilani.
Romance blossomed between the Russian dancer and Kara, who had split with Joe Swash earlier that year, and the duo soon moved in together.
But after the pair were rumoured to spend months apart due to issues with Artem’s visa, they called it a day on their romance.
Series 11: Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev
Countdown presenter Rachel Riley starred in the eleventh series of Strictly Come Dancing, where she was partnered with Latin and ballroom professional Pasha Kovalev.
Rachel, who was married to husband of 16 months Jamie Gilbert at the time, announced that they were separating in November 2013 - but insisted no-one else was involved.
In September 2016, it was revealed that the TV presenter was dating – and still is - the Russian dancer.
Series 11: Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff
After splitting with professional boxer Kristina Rihanoff, in 2013, the professional ballroom dancer met former England rugby union player, Ben Cohen, on the show.
The dance partners, who now share a child together, have denied that their relationship began while Ben was still with his ex-wife Abby Blayney, who he divorced in September 2014.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror back in 2015, Kristina insisted that Ben had “left his wife a year ago” and that the pair had only recently started dating.
Series 13: Georgia May Foote and Giovanni Pernice
Former Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote was dating her co-star Sean Ward, who played Callum Logan, back in 2015 when she starred in the BBC One show.
But eagle-eyed fans spotted chemistry between the star, who played Katy Armstrong in the ITV soap, and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice.
While Sean appeared in the audience to cheer on his girlfriend, rumours about their rocky relationship surfaced during the series - and the couple called time on their romance in December that year.
The dance duo, who lost the Glitterball to The Wanted's Jay McGuiness and his dance partner Aliona Vilani, were later spotted kissing while enjoying a New Year getaway to Disneyland Paris.
The couple announced they had split back in August 2016.
Strictly Come Dancing returns later this year on BBC One.